Amazon KDP vs Teachers Pay Teachers: Honest Comparison
Two options, side by side, with the real costs and the honest downsides. No hype, just what I'd want my own family to know before they choose.
| Amazon KDP | Teachers Pay Teachers | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 4.5✓ | 3.5 |
| Monthly cost | $0 | $0 |
| Category | Online selling platform | Online selling platform |
| Pros | Free to publish ebooks and paperbacks; Reach Amazon's huge global customer base; Ebook royalty options of 35% or 70%; Print on demand, so no inventory to buy | Huge audience of teachers already shopping; Make a resource once and sell it again and again; Low cost to start; Perfect for current and retired teachers |
| Cons | The 70% ebook royalty only applies to eligible prices and works; Heavy competition in popular categories; Marketing your book is up to you; Paperback royalties are reduced by printing costs | Basic Sellers keep only 55% of each sale; Higher payout needs a $59.95 yearly membership; Very crowded in popular subjects; Takes time to build a catalog that sells |
| Verdict | Amazon KDP is the simplest way to turn knowledge or stories into a product you can sell, with no upfront cost. Sales depend on choosing the right topic and promoting your book, so it pairs well with an email list and an audience of your own. | Teachers Pay Teachers is a natural fit if you've ever made your own classroom materials. Upgrade to the yearly membership once you're selling regularly so you keep more of each sale. |
Choose Amazon KDP if you want to publish ebooks or paperbacks with no upfront cost. Choose Teachers Pay Teachers if you create lesson plans and classroom resources.
Amazon KDP
Amazon's free self-publishing service for selling ebooks and paperbacks on Amazon and Kindle, paying royalties on each sale.
Teachers Pay Teachers
A marketplace where teachers and educators sell lesson plans, worksheets and classroom resources they create.
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